By: Georgina Suárez Hernández

The notice text so far seen as José Marti’s last writing before death found him in the battlefield on May 19, 1895 was addressed to General Máximo Gómez as a reminder of their mutual intention of marching together into to the war for independence.

Máximo Gómez had left on the 17th for heading nearby battles, while Martí remained stationed at Dos Ríos camp working on very important documents of war.

Among the brief messages he then wrote are an unfinished letter to Manuel Mercado dated on the 18th  a true political and ethic testament, whose content reveals the Hero’s innermost political outlook:     “…ya estoy todos los días en peligro de dar mi vida por mi país y por mi deber -puesto que lo entiendo y tengo ánimos con qué realizarlo- de impedir a tiempo con la independencia de Cuba que se extiendan por las Antillas los Estados Unidos y caigan, con esa fuerza más, sobre nuestras tierras de América.”

Martí knew about the risks he’s taking in such fight. “Sé de antemano que rara vez cobijan las ramas de un árbol la casa de aquel que lo siembra…”, as he himself had foretold in previous years.

Gómez had suddenly returned to the camp on that day, May 19th. He had been informed that a Spanish troop was moving somewhere around the rebels´ location. Fearing for the life of the Delegate, as Martí was in those days best known, given none of them have the required bodyguards, Gómez had decided to go back to the rebel camp.

There was hardly time enough to organize the defense. Martí, nevertheless, did not reject going out riding on horseback into the frontline. Mighty grounds led him to face the imminent conflict.

Last notes left in his war diary showed the spirit behind his recent return to the Cuban soil; “Yo hablo, al sol” , he had written in April 28.

How come not to understand the man that so thoughtfully had been compared with the sunlight might have walked decisively to encounter the enemy troops? Last words he scribbled just on  that fatal day, May 19th , portray like no others the grandeur of humble spirit and true intention of coming into action since his disembarking  on April 11 at Playita de Cajobabo.

By Cubasi Translation Staff.